CANISIUS HIGH SCHOOL 2018-2019

ATHLETIC HANDBOOK

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Athletics Philosophy

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY Canisius High School seeks to provide an environment in which the students are assisted in understanding themselves physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. The school endeavors to develop the students to be Christian leaders and understand how to use this learned behavior as an example for others. The environment of such an undertaking is characterized by a concern for the individual and his understanding of the relationship with other members of his team. The coaches of Canisius High School must understand the instruments available to them for teaching their students: the preamble to the JSEA and the Graduate-at-Graduation document.

THE CANISIUS STUDENT

WITHIN THE IGNATIAN PHILOSOPHY The philosophy that guides the Canisius Athletics program has been shaped by the school's Graduate-at-Graduation document. As the program exists because of and for the students, the purpose of the programs must be defined through the effects upon the students; goals and objectives must focus on the product of participation - the Canisius student.

• OPEN TO GROWTH - Through participation in athletics, the Canisius student matures as a person - physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually - to a degree that reflects a conscious responsibility for his growth. Participation in athletics begins as a personal choice and continues as an opportunity for the student to develop his body, mind, feelings, and spiritual consciousness always realizing that the ability to participate stems from a gift of God.

• INTELLECUTALLY COMPETENT - Through participation in athletics, the Canisius student

exhibits a progression of physical and mental skills. While the physical and mental skills required of a specific sport are as varied as the activity themselves, the need for integration of mind and body in competition remains common to all Canisius students.

• RELIGIOUS – Athletics at Canisius includes a religious dimension that should permeate the

student’s life; thus, through participation in extracurricular, the student finds these activities to be an instrument that can lead him closer to God. The student at Canisius manifests a fundamental orientation toward God in his relationship with his team and the larger community.

• LOVING - As a child of God, the Canisius student is known and loved by God. That love invites

a personal response which is an expression of movement within the human heart beyond self-interest or self-centeredness to relationships that insist upon individual care and concern for each person associated with his team.

• COMMITTED TO DOING JUSTICE - Participation in Canisius Athletics must

not be for selfish reasons or for merely personal satisfaction; rather, such participation and commitment should prepare the student for further participation and an active life commitment in the church and community in the service of others. Canisius High School athletic teams must seek to encourage, instill, and foster such growth and development in its students.

A DRUG AND ALCOHOL-FREE DEPARTMENT To support the goal that students make positive life-style choices formed by a Christian conscience and a loving responsibility toward the other members of teams, all Canisius athletic teams are drug and alcohol-free. (See "Regulations Governing the Season" regarding the specific policy.)

The Philosophy of Canisius High School Canisius is a four-year boys Catholic and Jesuit college preparatory high school. The aim of the entire Canisius community--administrators, faculty, staff, parents and students--is the spiritual, academic, emotional and physical development of the student. During his four years at Canisius High School, a student should grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He should come to realize that he is invited to follow Jesus and work with Him to build God's kingdom on earth. Just as the motto of all Jesuits is "For the Greater Glory of God," the student should come to the same orientation of making choices that honor God by doing the greater or better good. Specifically, the student should be marked by a number of characteristics. A Canisius student is one who is open to growth. He seeks opportunities to stretch his mind, imagination, feelings, and religious consciousness. A Canisius student is intellectually competent. He possesses an appropriate mastery of the fundamental tools of learning. He discovers his emerging intellectual skills for more advanced levels of learning. A Canisius student is loving. He is able to move beyond self-interest or self-centeredness in his relationships with others. A Canisius student is a religious person. He has a basic knowledge of the major doctrines, practices and spirituality of the Catholic Church. He strengthens his relationship with a religious tradition and community. (What is said here, respectful of the conscience of the individual, also applies to students of other religious backgrounds.) A Canisius student is committed to doing justice. He recognizes the potential within himself for doing injustice, as well as the injustices in some of the surrounding social structures. He is preparing himself to become a competent, concerned and responsible member of the world, national, local and family communities. Thus, he is beginning to appreciate the fact that Christian morality not only involves the individual conscience, but it demands that each person work actively in society to positively promote social justice. In summary, a Canisius student is a man-for-others.

ACADEMICS AND ELIGIBILITY Canisius High School encourages participation in athletics. However, students are reminded that such participation is a privilege and not a right. A student's academic welfare takes precedent over his participation in any athletic activity. This policy is meant to encourage students who are active in any activity to maintain their academic standings.

Students are ineligible who, at the distribution of grade reports, are failing two or more subjects. A

grade below 70% constitutes failing. Students may also be declared ineligible indefinitely due to disciplinary reasons as determined by the

Dean of Students or the Director of Athletics, or whenever, in the judgment of the principal and/or Assistant Principal, their academic welfare is in jeopardy.

Assessment reports are distributed midway through each marking period. Students failing two or more subjects as indicated by these assessment reports, may also be declared ineligible.

Students with an unattended failure from a previous semester course are ineligible until the conditions to pass, as set forth by the Principal, have been met.

Length of Ineligibility: Students who are ineligible may not participate in any extracurricular activity for a minimum of ten school days beginning with the day report cards are issued. The ineligibility period does not allow students to participate on weekends or during breaks. The ten school day period of ineligibility would still remain intact. Students declared ineligible due to assessment reports remain so at the discretion of the Principal and Assistant Principal.

Reinstatement of Eligibility: Evaluation forms are available from the Assistant Principal. The student

is required to have each of his teachers complete the form. Once completed, he must return the form to the Assistant Principal for approval. If approved, the student receives a reinstatement form to be given to his coach.

Ineligibility at the time of tryouts will severely impact your ability to make a team.

ATHLETICS REGULATIONS & POLICIES

Requirements for Participation in Athletics As a student at Canisius High School the following requirements must be met in order to participate in athletics:

• All academic eligibility requirements have been satisfied. • An up-to-date physical must be on file with the School Nurse. • A student-athlete must be enrolled in the Form ReLeaf program. A student-athlete must update

his profile in each new season of participation.

Transfer Policy Canisius High School adheres to the policies dictated by the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association. If you have questions pertaining to the policies, please see the Director of Athletics.

Absence and Athletics Students have the right and responsibility to attend school each day. Acceptable reasons for being absent are personal illness or injury, any reason acceptable to the principal, or death in the family. The principal shall declare an absence as unexcused if it cannot qualify in one of these categories even though the student is absent with parental consent. If a student doesn not report to school prior to the end of the first two periods, other than by reason of a school activity such as a field trip or retreat, during the school day and is active in a sport, he may not participate in the sport that day without approval from the administration. An athlete who has an excused absence on Friday may participate in a contest on Saturday or Sunday. We strongly encourage members of our athletic teams to not take vacations while in season. By choosing to be a member of a team at Canisius High School each student should have a clear understanding of his commitment. Students are always expected to attend class the day after a contest unless otherwise approved by the Dean of Students. An unexcused absence will be treated as cutting class as defined by the student handbook. Early Dismissal Requests Because athletics are considered a most integral part of the student’s development, the administration recognizes the necessity of occasional early dismissal from class to accommodate travel time to different events. All athletic schedules will be reviewed and approved by the Director of Athletics. Once approved, any events requiring early dismissal will be “excused” absences, and the usual procedure should be followed with the Dean of Student Affairs’ office. Fall season schedules must be submitted to the Athletic Department by June 1; winter schedules must be submitted by September 15; spring schedules must be submitted by February 15. Even when the Principal has approved early dismissals, coaches should post an early dismissal list at least three days in advance of the day of the game.

Early dismissal requests are the responsibility of the Athletic Director; it shall be at the discretion of the Principal and Athletic Director that early dismissal requests are granted. Coaches are directed not to abuse the privilege of early dismissal for athletic contests. Rain-outs and make-up games and matches will be reviewed as they occur for the purposes of rescheduling. Use of Off-Campus Facilities When off-campus facilities are used, coaches are to follow the instructions of the director in charge. It is important that we maintain good relations with officials in Buffalo, West Seneca and other outside agencies, since many times we are dependent upon their facilities for some of our sports. Drug and Alcohol Policy Canisius High School believes that chemical use by a high school student is inherently unhealthy for him for any combination of physical, emotional, spiritual, academic, or social reasons. In the case of chemical dependency, Canisius recognizes that it is a treatable disease which does not respect any group or age. Chemical is defined as any non-prescribed mind-altering substance. This definition therefore, includes alcohol. Although steroids are not mind-altering, their use is also included in this policy. It is the policy of the Canisius High School administration that a student involved in athletics found to have been drinking or using drugs or other controlled substance (including tobacco products) either on- or off-campus, while in-season, will be suspended from athletic activities for the remainder of the season. Any student found to have been drinking or using drugs while practicing or participating in an athletic event is liable for dismissal from that extracurricular activity for the remainder of the year. If a student is found to have abused a substance a second time, then he is liable for dismissal from participation in any Canisius-sponsored extracurricular. The Dean of Students can assess further action where it is deemed necessary. Hazing Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational process and shall be prohibited at all times. No administrator, faculty member, coach, or other employee of the school shall encourage, permit, condone, or tolerate any hazing activities. No student, including leaders of student organizations, shall plan, encourage, or engage in any hazing. Hazing is defined as doing any act or coercing another, including the victim, to do any act of initiation unto any student or other organization that causes or creates a substantial risk of causing mental or physical harm to any person. Permission, consent, or assumption of risk by an individual subjected to hazing does not lessen the prohibition contained in this policy. Administrators, faculty members, coaches, and all other employees of the school district shall be particularly alert to possible situations, circumstances or events that might include hazing. If hazing or planned hazing is discovered, involve students shall be informed by the discovering school employee of the prohibition contained in this policy and shall be required to end all hazing activities immediately. All hazing incidents shall be reported immediately to the Principal. Administrators, faculty members, students and coaches who fail to abide by this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, and may be liable for civil and criminal penalties in accordance with New York law.

Medical Procedures Physical Examinations The Canisius Athletic Department requires physical examinations for all students participating in a sport. This rule is as follows: An annual physical examination by a medical practitioner certifying that the student is physically fit to participate in athletics is required before a student may try out, practice, or participate in interscholastic athletic competition. The physical is good for 12 months and expires on the last day of the month. Physical examination forms are available in the Athletic Director’s and School Nurse’s Office. It is the coach's and the Athletic Director’s responsibility to insure that no student is permitted to try out for or participate on his team until such time as the player's record of a physical examination is on file in the Athletic Department. Form ReLeaf Form ReLeaf is an automated system that allows a student-athlete to update his physical status in each season he is participating in a sport. This system must be updated each season by parents/guardians. https://app.formreleaf.com/organizations/canisius-high-school Impact Tests Each student-athlete is expected to have an Impact test administered to them priot to the start of thei respective playing season. The Impact test measures and provides a student’s cognitive baseline in the event of a head injury. The Impact tests are good for two years. Procedure for Emergency Injuries If an athlete is injured during a practice or a game (and the coach feels the injury is relatively minor), the coach or the Athletic Trainer should administer any necessary first aid and, if necessary, have the player sit out the rest of the practice or game. If the injury appears to be serious enough to warrant immediate medical treatment, the coach or the Athletic Trainer should assess the situation and take action deemed necessary. The following may be some procedures taken: DIAL 911. Tell the person who answers exactly where the student is (on the field, in the gymnasium, in the locker room, etc.). If possible, send a responsible student to the front of the school in order to direct the ambulance driver to the injured student. Keep trying to contact the student’s parents while waiting for the ambulance in order to inform them of the action that has been taken. CONTACT THE STUDENT'S PARENTS. Inform the parents of the injury and ask them exactly where the student should be sent. Remember that EMS will take the athlete to the nearest hospital. If the Athletic Trainer or coach cannot reach the student's parents and feels an ambulance is necessary, he should: The coach or athletic trainer should follow the following guidelines:

• NEVER ALLOW THE INJURED STUDENT TO LEAVE IN THE AMBULANCE UNLESS THE PARENT, A FULL-TIME TEACHER/COACH, OR A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IS IN THE AMBULANCE WITH HIM. IN THE EVENT THAT PARENTS ARE UNAVAILABLE AND TRAVEL WITH THE INJURED STUDENT IS NOT FEASIBLE, THE COACH SHALL ALLOW ANOTHER STUDENT TO ACCOMPANY THE INJURED PLAYER. THE COACH SHALL EXERCISE REASONABLE JUDGMENT BEFORE ALLOWING THIS PROCEDURE TO TAKE PLACE

• CONTACT THE PRINCIPAL X-212, THE DEAN OF STUDENTS X-218 AND THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR X-241 TO INFORM THEM OF THE INJURY.

• FILE AN INJURY REPORT WITH THE SCHOOL NURSE AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. FORMS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

Travel and Facilities The Athletic Department will do everything it can to create an athletic schedule that reduces travel and overnight stays. The Athletic Director must approve any travel prior to a schedule being finalized. Transportation Requests and Guidelines The head coach should turn in transportation requests to the Athletic Director during the second week of June for fall activities, the second weeks of October for winter activities, and the second week of February for spring activities. The coach, an assistant coach, or another responsible adult, preferably a member of the faculty, must accompany the team at all times while traveling, be it in Buffalo or on an out of town trip. A player traveling to an event in school sponsored transportation is required to return to school in school sponsored transportation unless that player is released directly by the coach to his parents. Under no circumstances should a student/athlete be permitted to drive a school authorized vehicle. Should the school bus or charter bus break down, the coach and his members are to stay in the vehicle until help arrives. The coach should call the school to request help if a school vehicle is used. If a charter vehicle is being used, the driver will call his company for a replacement. Student Transportation in Private Vehicles Students may be permitted to drive or ride in private vehicles to and from events under the following conditions:

• They have proof of insurance. • They are legally permitted to drive. • They are not in an obvious physical or mental state which suggests they should not drive. • No official school transportation is available.

Locker Room and Gymnasium

1. Athletes using any of the school facilities need to be supervised. This is especially true after school, on holidays, and on weekends in the locker room. A coach or other adult must be present whenever athletes are in the locker room. The team locker room reflects the attitude of the coach and the team.

2. Individuals not officially connected with the team and with Canisius High School are not permitted in the locker room. These rules apply to any locker room area that a Canisius team is using either home or away.

3. The good coach achieves a healthy locker room atmosphere. Order, cleanliness, and neatness are marks of this healthy atmosphere. The coach should train his team in the idea of orderliness. The Maintenance supervisor will alert the Athletic Director to any extraordinary conditions in the locker room after use by student-athletes and/or coaches. The Athletic Director shall direct the cleanup and organization of the facility.

4. There should be order in the handling of equipment - its issuance, care, and return. The players should report all damaged, lost or stolen equipment to the head coach.

5. KEYS ARE NEVER TO BE GIVEN TO PLAYERS OR FRIENDS TO USE. It is very easy for them to make duplicates, to lose the keys, or to leave a door open. To give out a key is to invite trouble.

6. NO PLAYERS ARE TO USE THE WEIGHT ROOM WITHOUT THE SUPERVISION OF A COACH.

7. THE COACH IS NOT TO LEAVE UNTIL THE LAST PLAYER ON HIS TEAM HAS LEFT THE LOCKER ROOM.

8. Coaches are responsible for locking any and all facilities which they have opened when their team leaves that facility

9. Tennis shoes or basketball shoes are to be worn by participants while using the gymnasium floor. Any other type of footwear is not permissible. Socks without tennis shoes or basketball shoes are never to be worn on the gym floor. Violators of this rule are to be given JUG by the coach.

Regulations Governing The Season Starting Dates An organized practice shall be defined as a practice which is attended by coach and players and at which the coach directs, instructs, and drills the player, players, and/or the team. Organized practices during the school year shall not begin before the starting dates prescribed by the NYS Catholic High School Athletic Association. The Athletic Director will publish annually these dates and will list the dates in the school calendar. Practices Classes are normally dismissed at Canisius at 2:40 p.m. Athletic practice should begin as soon as possible after dismissal so that students will arrive home at a reasonable hour. Practices shall not exceed two-and-a-half hours in length. Practices that begin by 3:30 p.m. shall never extend beyond 6:00 p.m.(The practice sessions of selected varsity and junior varsity teams may be scheduled for later in the day due to facility limitations). Tryouts Most sports* will have a minimum of three (3) tryout days before a ‘first cut’ is made and a minimum of three (3) tryout days for athletes coming out from another sport. If a student tries-out for a second sport after being cut from a first sport in the same try-out period, the coach will provide the student not less than three (3) try-out days. * Golf will have a designated tryout period. Parents and athletes will be notified of this tryout period by the coaching staff or athletic department Injury Provision In the event a student athlete is injured at the start of tryouts for a cut sport he must meet with the Head Varsity Coach to determine whether or not a tryout would be feasible. If so the tryout procedure would be at the discretion of the coach. For sports that do not cut, the injured student athlete must inform the Head Coach of his injury and his intent to compete with the team prior to the start of practice. The varsity coach and assistants and the junior varsity coach should be involved as spectators and/or participants in all tryouts and provide input to freshman, sophomore, and junior varsity coaches on roster selections. The Athletic Director should be kept apprised of all potential athletes who have been dismissed from a team for any reason.

Policy on Cutting of Teams All cuts must be made verbally with encouragement to see the coach if there are any questions about the decision. Copies of cut lists are to be given to the Athletic Director, the Principal and counselors. (Posting a list only will not be permitted) In the event a player is transferred to another level, e.g., from the varsity to the J.V. team, the coach shall meet individually with those players to explain the situation. Each year students will be evaluated by the coaching staff or moderator on skill, team participation and an overall ability to help the squad. Lettering In sports which require cuts, any athlete making the team will earn a letter. For non cut sports the head coach will determine the criteria needed to earn a letter. This criteria will be stated to athletes before the start of the season. Any athlete dismissed from a team due to disciplinary reasons will not receive a letter. Awards will only be given to members of varsity teams. The Athletic Department will award the following to our student / athletes: (Awards based on achievement in each individual sport) 1st year award – Letter 2nd year award – Pin 3rd year award – Service Bar 4th year award – Service Bar Special awards will be decided upon by the Head Coach and his or her assistants and approved by the Athletic Director. Playing Up of Freshman Athletes and Moving Up of Athletes Post Season If a coach of a program decides that a freshman would be better suited participating on the sophomore, junior varsity or varsity level, the head coach of the program must inform the Athletic Director of that decision. At that time, it must be ascertained that the move is in the best interest of the student/athlete and the team. The coach must receive approval from the player’s parents for the move up. This policy does not apply to student/athletes who played up the previous year in a particular sport but does apply to freshman athletes moved-up for post-season play only. The Athletic Director must be consulted when the varsity coach wants to add a lower level player to his team for post-season competition. This is necessary for NYS and MMAA eligibility purposes and statistical purposes.

Quitting a Team To emphasize the importance and great degree of commitment asked of the Canisius athlete, the policy with regard to a student athlete who quits a Canisius athletic team before the end of its season is as follows: If a student athlete is a member of a particular Canisius team and then quits that team, he may not try out for any other school team until the completion of the season of the sport which he has quit. If, at the time an athlete quits a team (team “A”) while simultaneously playing on another varsity squad (team “B”), he may continue to participate on that second team (i.e. team “B”). The same ruling also applies to those individuals who are removed from a team because of academic or disciplinary reasons (in these instances, however, a player may be removed from both teams); it applies without exception to all students at Canisius High School. Ejection of Athletes From an Athletic Contest Any student/athlete ejected from an interscholastic contest for unsportsmanlike conduct or a flagrant foul shall be ineligible for contests for the remainder of that day as well as for all contests in that sport until two (2) regular season/tournament contest are played at the same level as the ejection (one contest in football). If the ejection occurs in the last contest of the season, the student/athlete shall be ineligible for the same period of time as stated above in the next sport in which the student/athlete participates. A student/athlete under suspension may not sit on the team bench, enter the locker room or be affiliated with the team in any way traveling to, during or traveling after the contest(s). A student/athlete who has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct for the second time shall be suspended for the remainder of the season in that sport. A student who has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct for the second time in the season during the last contest shall be ineligible for a period of time/number of contest subject to the discretion of the Athletics Director. The period of ineligibility shall commence during the next sport in which the student participates. It is the responsibility of Canisius High School to ensure that this regulation is enforced. When an ineligible student is allowed to participate, forfeiture of the contest is mandatory. This regulation shall apply to all regular season and tournament contests.. Dress Code Because the Athletic Department is a highly visible department at Canisius, all coaches and players should make an effort to present themselves in a professional manner, including and especially on game days. While a team shirt is deemed appropriate on the day of a game, sweats or other attire which may be deemed slovenly is certainly not in keeping with the image of the Canisius coach or athlete and may not be worn. At the beginning of each sports season, the coach and players shall determine appearance rules. Suggested guidelines are:

• A clean neat appearance that reflects the dress code. • This dress code should be in effect while traveling to any game, scrimmage or other contest. • The code should also be in effect when the team is together in any public forum.

Parent – Coach Communication Parent – Coach communication is outlined prior to each athletic season by the Athletic Director at the pre-season parent meeting. By establishing a clear understanding of both the role of coaching as a vocation and parenting as a vocation, only then can both parties learn to accept the actions of the other. This, in turn, will ultimately lead to greater benefits for our students. This understanding begins with clear communication from the coaches, the parents, the athletes and the athletic administration. Communication parents should expect from the coach/moderator

1. Philosophy of the program 2. Expectations the coach has for all players (your son included) on the team 3. Locations and times for practices and contests 4. Special team requirements (fees, special equipment, off season programs, etc.) 5. Injury procedure 6. Disciplinary action resulting in your son’s dismissal from a team

Communication coaches should expect from athletes

1. If a problem arises, athletes will meet with their coach first to try to resolve the difference Communication coaches should expect from parents

1. Personal concerns expressed directly to the coach 2. Notification of schedule conflicts

Concerns appropriate to discuss with coaches

1. Ways for your son to improve 2. Behavioral/Disciplinary actions taken

Concerns NOT appropriate to discuss with coaches

1. Playing time 2. Team strategy 3. Play calling 4. Other students

Proper Communication Procedures

1. Athlete-Coach

2. Athlete-Coach-Parent 3. Athlete-Coach-Athletic Director 4. Athlete-Coach-Parent-Athletic Director

In all cases, it is particularly noteworthy that all communications begin with the athlete. Athletes and parents should realize that confronting an unsuspecting coach before or after a practice or contest is not always a good time. Everyone deserves the opportunity to gather one’s thoughts. This includes both parents and coaches. Before or after a practice or contest is often an extremely emotional time. This generally does not result in sound communication. When meetings are necessary, proper procedure calls for setting an appointment. Allowing for proper procedures and open communication, your son can expect a rewarding and positive experience. Let us all join together in helping each other make Canisius athletics what it was intended to be – a physical, emotional and spiritual growing experience.

Community and the Press Coaches or their assistants are expected to contact the proper media with their team’s results. The coach should also contact the athletic department with results in order to have them posted on the internet. Coaches are urged to promote their sports and Canisius athletics in general at every available opportunity, such as homeroom announcements, hosting parent information evenings, sponsoring alumni games, or merely talking with parents and spectators after an athletic contest. Similarly, media attention can be most beneficial to the athletic program; all coaches should try to accommodate media personnel to the utmost of their abilities. Be as honest and positive as possible in dealing with reporters. Emphasize the good things that occurred; do not dwell on the bad things that might have happened. It is the responsibility of the Head Coach (or his designate) to contact media sports desks immediately after every varsity game to report the outcome of the contest. On occasion the Athletic Director will also issue press releases on significant events pertinent to the Canisius athletic program.

Recruiting A student is considered a prospective athlete after enrolling in the seventh grade, or the grade corresponding to the seventh grade for a student from a foreign country. Any attempt to recruit a prospective student/athlete for athletic purposes shall be strictly prohibited. For purposes of this, the term “recruit” shall mean the use of influence by any person connected or not connected with the school to secure the transfer of a prospective student/athlete. EXCEPTION: Mass marketing of a school directed to a general population of students does not constitute prohibited recruiting. Prior to enrollment, a student/athlete may visit a public or non-public school in contemplation of transfer, as long as that contemplated transfer is consistent with Board of Education or similar governing board policy formally adopted by that school district and arrangements for the visit are made through the principal and/or school administrator designated by the Board of Education or similar governing board. Any violation of the recruiting prohibitions as set forth in this Bylaw shall cause the recruited student-athlete to be ineligible upon transfer. Furthermore, the school to which the recruited student-athlete transfers or the school the recruiting attempts were intended to benefit shall by subject to sanctions including, but not limited to, suspension of membership in the OHSAA. Interpretation

• All member high schools are permitted to mass market the entire high school programs and all of its elements for the purpose of informing and recruiting students.

1. Recruiting a select athletic group or individual, i.e. eighth grade team or individual sports

participants, is a violation. 2. Coaches initiating contact with prospective student-athletes or their parents, prior to

registration, is a violation.

• All questions relating to enrollment, attendance or the athletic program should be handled through

the school administration or the admissions office. High school coaches may answer athletic questions from prospective student-athletes and/or their parents and describe their programs only within the school in accordance with approved administrative policies and procedures (i.e. via admissions offices). Once a prospective student-athlete makes initial contact, coaches should feel free to respond to any questions or concerns.

• Member schools shall not distribute athletic publications or advertise solely for athletics. All

athletic materials must be accompanied by general school information, prior to student registration.

1. Athletic camp brochures that advertise athletic camps that are available to a general

population are permitted.

• Invitations and/or free admission to high school contests or invitations to athletic-related recognition ceremonies/banquets, etc., are permitted provided that the invitation or admission is extended to the entire group or team and is mutually agreed upon by the administrations of both schools/organizations.

1. Additional favors or inducements cannot be given to prospective student athletes or their

parents.

• Providing financial aid or scholarships to a student on the basis of athletic ability is prohibited.

• All member school coaches and student athletes, when invited, may speak at elementary/middle schools, as well as to youth organizations, provided the talk focuses on educational values and is not used to recruit student-athletes